Now that your ready, let's move! There are brokers (who used to charge a fee, though I believe that fee has recently been removed). However, word of mouth is often the best option, especially for artists. The art world is cyclical, and regardless of your focus, you never know who might be moving out or in need of a roommate. This is why I believe word of mouth is so valuable.
The community listings.com posts room shares, sublets, or artists who have available space. This community has grown significantly. StreetEasy is also a popular apartment site/app for the NYC and NJ areas. Craigslist used to be an option I relied on as well.
Shelters in NYC cater to specific target demographics, so be aware of that. If you're enrolled in a school, the buildings may have 24-hour access, which is always an option. Recently, I discovered that some people even rest in storage rooms. While it's not ideal, it can be an affordable solution if you're able to make it work.
Don’t forget about apartment lotteries—Housing Connect and Mitchell-Lama are worth applying to before you move. The waitlists can be a year or more, so start applying as soon as possible.
Lastly, and this is the best tip I’ve saved for last: artist housing. I only discovered artist housing two years ago, and I’m honestly disappointed I didn’t learn about it sooner. But now that I know, I’m passing it on to you.
Housing options mentioned
brokers
word of mouth
listings
street easy
craigslist
shelters
school
housing connect & Mitchell lama lotteries
artist housing
Ill be unpacking each of the aforementioned sources further & sharing it an ebook which I’ll sell in my Etsy shop: lelelibrary.etsy.com
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